Triana couldn’t claim to know for certain about either, for both were feats that she’d been unable to hurdle and likely never would. And although there was something about the woman that had never set right with Triana, she had never been able to pinpoint what it was. Now she knew.
The lovely widow had her sights set on Gabriel.
“What a dour expression!”
“Indeed, she does look particularly… annoyed. I daresay I’m intrigued.”
Triana turned at the sound of two of her dearest friends. Lady Alyssa Breyton’s dark brows were raised in teasing reproof, her sparkling, green eyes alive with joviality. Her companion, Lady Rowena Freeham, wore a similar expression; her brown eyes alight with mischief.
“Finally, I am rescued!” Triana embraced each of them. “I was just about to expire out of sheer boredom.” Hoping to change the subject of her demeanor, she asked, “So how was the Rothchild musicale last night? Was it truly worth missing the Kensington ball?”
Rowena made a point of examining her glove, and replied somewhat sheepishly, “Aly and I were actually able to make our excuses and leave earlier than planned.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes before moving in closer to Triana to explain in further detail. “Ro pleaded a headache while I complained about my courses.” Then, giving a conspiratorial wink, she added, “Although, I can only suspect too much time around Lady Gracien’s awful piano playing can result in a true malady! Truly, the only enjoyment must have been had by the hard of hearing.”
Triana quickly covered her laughter with her gloved palm. “Aly, for shame! You really are terrible!”
The other girl merely shrugged her shoulders, as if such behavior was of no consequence to her. “What can I say if not for the truth? My aunt raised me not to tell a lie.”
Rowena snorted disdainfully. “Among other things, but I don’t recall you listening to any of them either.” All three of them giggled at this, for it was meant in good humor and not as a snide comment.
Once the merriment had subsided, Alyssa flipped out her fan with a practiced flick of her wrist, in the process hiding a stuck-out tongue toward two elderly matrons who walked by without so much as a glance in their direction, their noses held high in the air.
Alyssa batted her green eyes innocently. “So, is anything exciting happening tonight, other than the usual snubs we’ve grown to expect? I swear I haven’t heard any worthy gossip to mull over since I went to that dreadful opera last week.” Shaking her head in mock remorse, she added, “Truly, the best part of that off kilter mess was the juicy tidbits I received during intermission.”
Rowena clasped her hands in front of her and announced, in her most demure and poised voice, “You know, a true member of the peerage can only benefit from such somber entertainment. It broadens the mind to more appealing subjects and proves, even further, that a lady should keep an open mind.”
Triana’s mouth fell open in mock horror while Alyssa dropped her fan to her side, hands planted firmly on her hips. “Good lord, Ro. Anymore I think you actually believe that rubbish you spout off.”
Knowing that her statement was going to get a rise out of Alyssa, Rowena collapsed into giggles, her blond curls dancing. “I swear, the more I do that, I sound just like my mother!”
“I thought I overheard someone having fun over here.” The trio turned to see Korina advancing on them, Isabella trailing in her wake. “Don’t you know that kind of behavior is taboo for the likes of us? Spinsters are supposed to be boring simpletons.”
“I vow thatthisseason will be different,” Triana noted firmly. And suddenly, an idea began to take root. “I say we make a pact.”
“A pact?” Alyssa echoed. “Now this sounds interesting. Go on.”
Triana began. “Each of us have already been out in society for at least four years, except Korina, although I don’t expect her to remain in London for long.”
Korina nodded. “It’s true. English civility bores me to tears.” She gestured in the direction of several couples who had just lined up for a quadrille. “Besides, it’s not as ifthatis true enjoyment. I like my toes just as they are, not mangled by some Lord Whoever’s two left feet. Rest assured, as soon as I convince my mother that I can find a proper husband in America, I shall be sailing back across the Atlantic with all due haste.”
“Exactly,” Triana continued. “So that leaves the four of us. Since we are of a similar age, I propose that after we all reach five and twenty, if we haven’t yet procured a suitable husband before we graduate from a ‘spinster’ to a ‘thornback,’ we should join Korina on her quest to America — start a new life away from the strictures of society. With our respective dowries, we can finally be able to do what we wish.”
Rowena put a finger to her lips. “That gives us about a year to plan accordingly.” She shrugged. “I’m in. I daresay a change of scenery sounds rather nice.”
Alyssa hesitated. “I love the idea, but I’m not sure I could leave my aunt.”
“Convince her to come with us,” Triana returned fervently, reaching out and taking her hands.
With a grin, Alyssa said, “Very well. I’m in.”
Until that point, Isabella had been rather quiet during the exchange. Triana touched her arm and said softly, “Izzy, are you with us?”
The other woman blinked her slightly owlish brown eyes. “Could I have some… time to consider it?”
Triana smiled gently, knowing the other woman was reluctant to leave Lord Wistenberry. She just hoped she might nudge her in the opposite direction before it was too late and Izzy lost her heart to him, if she hadn’t already. “Of course.”
“Trouble’s coming!” Triana heeded Rowena’s urgent, whispered warning just as a man abruptly cleared his throat behind her.
